Woman Accuses Ex-Rep. Swalwell of 2018 Rape

A woman who identified herself as Lonna Drewes publicly accused former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California on Tuesday of drugging, raping, and choking her during an encounter in 2018, detailing the allegations at a press conference in Beverly Hills. The accusation came one day after Swalwell, a Democrat, resigned from Congress amid a series of sexual misconduct claims from multiple women.

Drewes, a former model and owner of a fashion software company at the time, said she met Swalwell three times that year while pursuing business and political opportunities in the Los Angeles area. She described their initial interactions as professional and friendly, with Swalwell offering connections to help expand her company. Drewes emphasized she had no romantic interest in him, noting she was in a committed relationship and aware that Swalwell was married with a pregnant wife.

On the third occasion, Drewes said, they planned to attend a political event in West Hollywood but first stopped at his hotel room so he could retrieve paperwork. After consuming one glass of wine, she became incapacitated and unable to move, leading her to believe her drink had been drugged. "When I arrived at his...